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participle
[ pahr-tuh-sip-uhl ]
noun
- a form derived from a verb, used in English as an adjective to express participation in the action or state of the verb, or combined with an auxiliary verb to construct any of various tenses, as in a burning candle, a known fact, I am freezing, She has gone: a participle does not specify person or number, but may have a subject or object, show tense, etc.
participle
/ ˈpɑːtɪsɪpəl; ˌpɑːtɪˈsɪpɪəl; pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl /
noun
- a nonfinite form of verbs, in English and other languages, used adjectivally and in the formation of certain compound tenses See also present participle past participle
participle
- The verb form that combines with an auxiliary verb to indicate certain tenses . The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the infinitive; it indicates present action: “The girl is swimming ”; “I am thinking .” ( Compare gerund .) The past participle usually ends in -ed ; it indicates completed or past action: “The gas station has closed ”; “The mayor had spoken .” Participles may also function as adjectives : “Your mother is a charming person”; “This is a talking parrot”; “ Spoken words cannot be revoked.”
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Grammar Note
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Notes
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Derived Forms
- ˌpartiˈcipially, adverb
- participial, adjectivenoun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of participle1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of participle1
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Compare Meanings
How does participle compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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Example Sentences
This is the termination of the present participle and verbal adjective derived from verbs in -a.
Bessoun (in French, besson) means a twin, and the participle expresses the idea, clasped together like twins.
"Nay, I wanna thinking-g o' that," Ned replied, strongly doubling the "g" that terminated the present participle.
In this participle the termination -ing seems almost equivalent to that of the past participle: comp.
Trod (or trodden), past participle of tread: ‘to tread a measure’ is a common expression, meaning ‘to dance.’
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